A complaint raised by an MDMK functionary about its ally and the ruling DMK’s demand for a commission on paddy procurement has sparked controversy in Madurai district, especially after the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) issued a statement urging the public to report corruption. The complaint follows numerous allegations of corruption in areas like Pudukottai, Tanjavur, and Pattukottai.
At the Chelampatti paddy procurement center in Madurai district, a DMK union secretary allegedly forced a farmer who is also an MDMK functionary, to wait for five days to have his sacks of paddy weighed unless he paid a commission. The farmer, visibly distressed, tearfully shared his experience during a farmers’ grievance redressal meeting with Collector Sangeetha. Unable to speak properly, fellow farmers offered him water for comfort.
The farmer, identified as Manavalakannan, explained, “Sudhakaran, the union secretary of the DMK in Chelampatti, is demanding that I pay money to the staff at the procurement center before they will weigh my paddy bags. He kept my bags waiting for five days without weighing them. They are asking for a commission of ₹70 per 40 kg bag, while the state government only provides ₹10 per bag to the workers.”
He further explained that, in addition to paying the ₹70, farmers are also expected to give ₹25 per bag to the office staff and ₹20 to local dignitaries for the procurement center to function smoothly. If they refuse, the center will not operate.
While this practice has been ongoing for the past three years, the farmer claimed that this time, the situation has escalated. He pointed out that 17 new centers had opened recently, despite 95% of the paddy harvest being completed in the Chelampatti area. He expressed concerns that these newly opened centers were benefiting out-of-town traders rather than local farmers, as only a small percentage of the paddy was actually ready for harvest.
According to the farmer, at the Chelampatti center, even after paying the requested commission, farmers are still charged between ₹65 and ₹80 per sack. He also mentioned that he had informed his leadership at MDMK about the situation but was unsure of what further steps could be taken.
Following the meeting, a visibly emotional Manavalakannan continued to cry as he spoke with journalists outside the session, repeating his concerns.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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